专四阅读详解 四

星期4 ThursdayNo thorns , no throne ; no cross, no crown.没有辛劳，何来成功；没有挫折，何来辉煌。

Text AWhen television is good, nothing — not the theatre, not the magazines, or newspapers — is better. But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air and stay there without a book, magazine, newspaper, or anything else to distract you and keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that you will observe a vast wasteland. You will see a procession of game shows, violence, audience participation shows, formula comedies about totally unbelievable families, mayhem, more violence, sadism, murder, Western bad men, Western good men, private eyes, gangsters, still more violence and cartoons. And, endlessly, commercials that scream and sweet-talk and offend. And most of all, boredom. True, you will see a few things you will enjoy. But they will be very, very few. And if you think I exaggerate, try it.Is there no room on television to teach, to inform, to uplift, to stretch, to enlarge the capacities of our children? Is there no room for a children’s news show explaining something about the world for them at their level of understanding? Is there no room for reading the great literature of the past, teaching them the great traditions of freedom? There are some fine children’s shows, but they are drowned out in the massive doses of cartoons, violence, and more violence. Search your conscience and see whether you cannot offer more to your young beneficiaries whose future you guard so many hours each and every day.You will get no argument from me if you say that, given a choice between a Western and a symphony, more people will watch the Western. I like Westerns and private eyes, too, but a steady diet for the whole country is obviously not in the public interest. We all know that people would more often prefer to be entertained rather than stimulated or informed. But your obligations are not satisfied if you look only to popularity as a test of what to broadcast. You are not only in show business: you are free to communicate ideas as well as give relaxation. You must provide a wider range of choices, more diversity, and more alternatives. It is not enough to cater to the nation’s whims — you must also serve the nation’s needs. The people own the air. They own it as much in prime evening time as they do at 6 o’clock in the morning. For every hour that the people give you, you owe them something. I intend to see that your debt is paid with service.1. The purpose of the first two sentences in Para. 1 is[A] to describe television is good enough.[B] to show television is bad enough.[C] to arouse reader’ interest in television program.[D] to lead readers onto the main theme.2. Why does the author say that people will observe a vast wasteland?[A] Because a large empty and barren land can be seen in Western countries.[B] Because the programs on TV are not popular with people.[C] Because the commercials annoy people greatly.[D] Because the programs on TV seldom offer anything worthwhile to people.3. Which of the following is NOT true concerning programs for children?[A] There are actually no fine shows for children.[B] Children are exposed to too much violence on TV.[C] Too many cartoons are provided.[D] Children’s news shows are usually beyond the ir understanding.4. According to the author, the broadcasters[A] should ban mystery programs.[B] had better mend their ways.[C] should make decision about programs.[D] had better regard popularity as a norm of program content.5. Which of the following is NOT the author’s viewpoint?[A] The broadcasters achieve great success in holding people’s attention.[B] The audience themselves tend to prefer relaxation to stimulation.[C] The broadcasters try to do the right thing but fail.[D] A really good program should not only entertain people but also communicate ideas.Text BHarvard University named historian Drew Gilpin Faust as its first female president on February 11, ending a lengthy and secretive search to find a successor to Lawrence Summers. The seven-member Harvard Corporation elected Faust, a noted scholar of the American South and dean of the Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, as the University’s 28th president.“This is a great day, and a historic day for Harvard,” James Houghton, chairman of the presidentia l search committee, said in a statement. “Drew Faust is an inspiring and accomplished leader, a superb scholar, a dedicated teacher, and a wonderful human being.” With the naming of Faust, half of the eight Ivy League schools will have a woman as president. Her selection is noteworthy given the uproar over Summers’ comments that genetic differences between the sexes might help explain the dearth of women in top science jobs, comments which sparked debate about the equality at Harvard and nationwide.Faust has been dean of the Radcliffe since 2001, two years after the former women’s college was merged into the university as a research center with a mission to study gender issues. “No university in the country, even in the world has remarkable a past as Harvar d,” Faust, who has never managed a big organization, said in a statement. “And our shared enterprise is to make Harvard’s future even more remarkable than its past.” The Harvard Crimson, a student newspaper, said in an editorial that Harvard now is at the crossroad and managing much-needed reform will be among Faust’s foremost challenges. In addition to that, Faust will oversee 25,000 employees and ＄3 billion budget with 1.6 million budget, 81 stuff and fewer than 15 faculty members at Radcliffe.Some professors have quietly groused that —despite the growing centrality of scientific research to Harvard budget —the 371-year-old university is appointing a fifth consecutive president who is not a scientist. No scientist has had the top job since James Bryant Conant retired in 1953; its last four have come from the fields of classics, law, literature and economics.Faust is the first Harvard president who did not receive an undergraduate or graduate degree from the university since Charles Chauncy, a graduate of Cambridge University in England, who died in office in 1672. She attended Bryn Mawr College and the University of Pennsylvanian, where she is also the professor of history.“Faculty turned to her constantly as someone whose opinion is to be trusted,” said Shelton Hackney, a former president of the University of Pennsylvania and a southern historian who worked closely with Faust. “She is very clea r, well-organized. She has a sense of humor, but she is very even-keeled. You come to trust in her because she’s so solid.”6. Feb.11 was a historic day for Harvard in that[A] the first wonderful female president appeared.[B] the university ended a lengthy and secretive search to find a successor.[C] the seven-member Corporation intended to nominate Faust as the president.[D] the female presidents in the eight Ivy League schools were the same as male ones.7. The word “dearth” in Para. 2 means[A] frequency. [B] enough.[C] insufficiency. [D] vigor.8. Why did some professors have some complaints about Faust’s nomination?[A] The proportion of the scientific research is increasing.[B] They believed a female was not capable of this post.[C] Faust did not receive degree from this university.[D] They believed that the president should be a scientist.9. According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?[A] Faust will face greater challenges after her nomination.[B] Faust didn’t work in the Harvard University before she was elected to be president.[C]Faust and Chauncy have studied in the different universities.[D]Neither Faust nor Chauncy has received degree from the Harvard University.10. Shelton Hackney held the view that[A] Drew Faust is an inspiring and accomplished leader.[B] few women make top scientists owing to genes.[C] women cannot achieve as much as men in management.[D] Drew Faust is a reliable person with extraordinary personality charm.Text CPresident Bush and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun pressed North Korea to rejoin deadlocked talks on its nuclear weapons program and try to minimize their own differences over how hard to push the North Korean government. “South Korea and the United Stat es share the same goal, and that’s a Korean Peninsula without a nuclear weapon,” Bush said with Roh at his side in his Oval Office. Roh, whose government has resisted the tougher approach advocated by the Bush Administration toward ending the deadlock, said he agreed that six-nation talks remain the best way to persuade Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambition.While Bush emphasized the two allies “are of one voice” on the issue, Roh, who is presidingover a South Korea assertive about its role in the region, raised the issues of remaining differences.“There are, admittedly, many people who worry about potential discord or cacophony between the two powers of the alliances,” he said through a translator.Roh opposed military action if diplomacy with North Korea fails. South Korea is also cool to the idea of taking the South Korea standoff to the UN Security Council for possible sanction. South Korea instead is pursuing a policy of engagement with the North and supports a security guarantee or economic incentives to tempt North Korea to return to six-nation talks it has boycotted for nearly a year.Bush, however, wants South Korea — as well as China — to take a more aggressive position. The president said he had no new inducements for North Korea beyond those offered last June, when the North was told it could get economic and diplomatic benefits once it had verifiably disarmed.While insisting the U.S. has no intention launching a military strike, Bush has steadfastly refused to take that option off the table. And the Administration is increasingly hinting it is closer to pursuing U.N. sanctions.North Korea has sent mixed signals whether it will return to negotiations with the other five countries. North Korean diplomats indicated that they were willing to come back, but they set no date. A North Korea official later boasted his country was adding to its nuclear stockpile.During the Bush-Roh meeting, Bush said five times that Seoul and Washington either “share the same goal” or are speaking with “one voice”.Roh said that “one or two minor issues” between the longtime allies could be worked out “very smoothly”. The South Korean President indicated that he and Bush were on the same page on the “basic principles”.On North Korea, Roh’s moves to engage — by sending energy and food aid north — contrast with the U.S. approach. The South Korea position reflects its strategic interests. A collapse of its neighbor could send millions of the refugees streaming southward and ravage the South Korea economy. The country also fears a military strike could lead to a devastating second Korean War.Six-nation talks lasts for a long time. Until now it has not been achieved a unanimous agreement. Each country’s standing point is its national interests. There are variances and conflicts between the nations. To solve this issue is still a long way to go.11. In Roh’s opinion, what is the best choice to persuade North Korean to abandon its nuclear ambition?[A] Six-nation talks.[B] Tougher approaches.[C] Deadlocked talks.[D] Second Korean War.12. Which was NOT the attitude of South Korea if the diplomatic tactics failed?[A] They were not in favor of military action.[B] They objected to appealing this issue to the UN Security Council.[C] They were not inclined to possible sanction against North Korea.[D] They would give up its engagement policy.13. “Bush has steadfastly refused to take that option off the table.” in Para.6 means[A] in some situations, America would probably choose the military action if necessary.[B] Bush Administration abandoned the military action towards North Korea.[C] Bush changed his previous attitude and adopted a more moderate way.[D] Bush Administration had no intention to launch a military action.14. North Korea’s attitude towards returning to the six-nation talks was[A] positive. [B] indifferent.[C] ambiguous. [D] tangible.15. What would NOT be the consequence if North Korea was trapped in the war？[A] It would produce thousands of refugees.[B] America would gain a lot of profit in the war.[C] The economy in South Korea would be affected.[D] It would not be in line with the South Korea’s interest.16. What does this passage mainly talk about?[A] America and South Korea had common interest on the nuclear issues.[B] America and South Korea urged North Korea to return to the six-nation talks.[C] America and South Korea tried their best to narrow the differences on the nuclear issues.[D] North Korea refused to return to the six-nation talks.Text DThe period of adolescence, i.e. the period between childhood and adulthood, may be long or short, depending on social expectations and on society’s definition as to what constitutes maturity and adulthood. In primitive societies adolescence is frequently a relatively short period of time, while in industrial society with patterns of prolonged education coupled with laws against child labor, the period of adolescence is much longer and may include most of the second decade of one’s life. Furthermore, the length of the adolescent period and the definition of adulthood status may change in a given society as social and economic conditions change. Examples of this type of change are the disappearance of the frontier in the latter part of the nineteenth century in the United States, and more universally, the industrialization of an agricultural society.In modern society, ceremonies for adolescence have lost their formal recognition and symbolic significance and there no longer is agreement as to what constitutes initiation ceremonies. Social ones have been replaced by a sequence of steps that lead to increases of recognition and social status. For example, grade school graduation, high school graduation and college graduation constitute such a sequence, and while each step implies certain behavioral change and social recognition, the significance of each depends on the socio-economic status and the educational ambition of the individual. Ceremonies for adolescence have also been replaced by legal definitions of status roles, rights, privileges and responsibilities. It is during the nine years from the twelfth birthday to the twenty-first that the protective and restrictive aspects of childhood and minor status are removed and adult privileges and responsibilities are granted. The twelve-year-old is no longer considered a child and has to pay full fare for train, airplane, theater and movie tickets. Basically, the individual at the age of sixteen loses childhood privileges without gaining certain adult rights which increase his social status by providing him with more freedom and choice. He now can obtain a driver’s license; he can leave public school; and he can work without the restrictions of child labor laws. At the age of eighteen the law provides adult responsibilities as well as rights. The young man can now be a soldier, but he also can marry without parental permissions. At the age of twenty-one the individual obtains his full legal rights as an adult. He now can vote, he can buy liquor, he can enter into financial contracts, and he is entitled to run for public office. No additional basic rights are acquired as a function of age aftermajority status has been attained. None of the legal provisions determine at what points adulthood has been reached but they do point out the prolonged period of adolescence.17. The period of adolescence is much longer in industrial societies because[A] young people are unwilling to take on social responsibilities of adults.[B] people achieve physical maturity at a later age in the industrialized society.[C] more education is provided and laws against child labor are made.[D] ceremonies for adolescence have lost their formal recognition and symbolic significance.18. Former social ceremonies that used to mark adolescence have given place to the following EXCEPT[A] the increase of one’s age.[B] a series of behavioral changes.[C] a process of achieving recognition and social status.[D] legal definitions of status roles, rights, privileges and responsibilities.19. No one can expect to fully enjoy the adulthood privileges until he is[A] between twelve and twenty-one years old.[B] twenty-one years old.[C] sixteen years old.[D] eleven years old.20. The author thinks that in modern society,[A] one can marry without permission of his parents.[B] one is considered to have reached adulthood when he has a driver’s license.[C] one is not free from the restrictions of child labor laws until he can join the army.[D] the dividing line between adolescence and adulthood no longer exists.语境词汇Text A1. go on the air 开始播送(无线电或电视)节目2. sign off 停播；停止活动3. mayhem n.蓄意的破坏（或暴力）行为4. sadism n.虐待狂5. private eyes 私家侦探6. drown out 压过，盖没；赶走，使无家可归7. beneficiary n.受惠者，受益人8. show business 娱乐业，演艺生意9. cater to 满足某种需要或要求；悉心照料10. whim n.异想天开的念头，冲动Text B1. successor to sb./sth. 接替的人或事物，继任者2. dearth n.缺乏，不足；饥荒3. spark v.导致；发出火花n.火星4. grouse v.抱怨，发牢骚n.牢骚；常发牢骚的人5. consecutive a.连续的6. even-keeled a.稳定的Text C1. Oval Office （美国白宫的）椭圆形办公室，总统办公室2. cacophony n.不和谐音，不谐调音；刺耳的声音3. sanction n.制裁；批准；约束力v.认可，准许4. boycott v.&n. (联合)抵制5. on the same page 与他人看法一致；在同一页上(进度相同)6. ravage v.毁坏；蹂躏n.毁坏；毁坏的结果7. unanimous a.一致同意的，一致通过的Text D1. adolescence n.青少年期，青春期，青春2. frontier n.边界；边缘；[the ~s]未开发领域3. ceremony n.典礼，仪式4. initiation n.加入，被接纳；开始，创始5. grant v.正式或依法给予某物6. run for 竞选难句突破Text A1. I invite you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air and stay there without a book, magazine, newspaper, or anything else to distract you and keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off.【分析】复合句。